But in the first semester after high school that’s about all I did. I gave up playing college hockey and selected Manchester College to be near my high school girlfriend. I spoke to the football coach about playing football for them on my campus visit in the Spring. He flatly turned me down because I didn’t play high school ball. I was a good football player, but played HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY. He wouldn’t even give me a tryout. After all, the Spartans football team had to protect their reputation. Dear Lord, I had never even heard of them!

So I saw the soccer team down on their field after he rejected me and walked over to talk to the coach. His name was Coach Hastings and he was very gracious. I told him I didn’t know a thing about soccer and had never even kicked a real soccer ball before, but if he would let me tryout in the fall when I arrived that I would buy a ball that day and train every day over the summer and learn the game…..which I did. And though they also were no powerhouse, I loved it. I came to camp as the fastest player, could kick/shoot with both legs, and brought my hockey aggression with me. I started at left inside striker, and learned a lot.

One of the things I learned was to not make decisions based upon things like a high school girlfriend. She actually dumped me after close to three years of dating just about 2 weeks after I arrived. I went into a deep depression, which led to some healthy aggression on the field and a varsity letter……..BUT that was all I got. I left college just after the season, with a varsity letter and a half a credit from gym. I failed everything else.

I drove over to the campus today on my way back from a trip up north. So many things were the same. It amazed me at how I remembered things, and how even the same of failing welled up in me there too. No one wants to go to college to fail, and here’s a secret, I just didn’t do it there……I did it three times in three places.

But despite the failure, and despite the pain, and despite the shame, God used it to bring me to the life I have now. Sure, Angelina went on to Brad, but come on, look what I have! In truth, I needed to be there, even for such a short while, and I needed to fail…because ultimately, I need to connect with reality and grow up. And that I did…..for the most part.

Ironically, I will be spending the next four days up north, but not in North Manchester, but in Mishawaka my home. I am sure I will see a lot more things that will bring on these important memories, and all and all, I expect to learn a lot.

I have no regrets about my past, as long as I can learn from it, and thankfully I have. Having your name be synonymous with “academic probation” is nothing to be proud of, yet it is the “Tirman way.” So like the rest of my relatives, I screwed up and went on to be successful. But they are just doctors and professors and such……no one did it like me. After all I played a season of soccer for Manchester.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!